Embark beyond

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin It's going to be a busy summer travel season. And different. The summer travel advice from experts is different, too. Domestic travel volume will rise 16% over last year, with almost 75% of Americans planning to travel domestically for summer vacations, according to Allianz Partners' Top 10 Summer Destinations review . And travel to Europe will soar 600% over last year. ​​ "The floodgates have opened," says Valentina O'Kane, owner of Incognito Global Travel , an affiliate of Embark Beyond. "People are rushing to get out there again. The popular tourist destinations are overbooked, with little if any availability. They are going to be overcrowded and overpriced this summer." I just interviewed 200 top travel experts about what lies ahead for travel. Here's part one of my series , which outlines what to expect in the next three months. There are two important takeaways. Covid is far from over, so you may … [Read more...] about Expert Summer Travel Advice For Your Next Vacation

Andrew Forrest travels the globe trying to persuade leaders of industry and politics — and rank-and-file workers — that despite his polluting past he’s the man to champion green hydrogen as the clean fuel of the future. M ore than a couple of the dozen or so coal-plant workers gathered at West Virginia’s Pleasants Power Station in April to hear Andrew Forrest push his green hydrogen agenda rolled their eyes as he spoke. “I believe this coal-fired power station has a huge future,” the Australian mining billionaire told them. The employees could be forgiven for their skepticism. Just weeks before, they learned their plant, surrounded by other closures throughout coal country, would be the latest to shut down . Forrest’s message was heartfelt, contrarian and a bit pie in the sky. In West Virginia, the second-largest coal-producing region in the U.S., Forrest told the workers that 22 of the state’s 26 coal-powered plants could be converted to green hydrogen plants. Tell your … [Read more...] about Australian Mining Billionaire Touts A Green Revolution In U.S. Coal Country — With Skepticism Trailing Close Behind

Trade Watchlist Portfolio Message Set Alert live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More × ICICI Direct's research report on Dr Reddy's Laboratories Dr Reddy’s is embarking on the next phase of its strategy in alignment with changing dynamics of industry, emerging opportunities. The goal is to leverage Horizon 1 business growth levers and drive productivity to invest in Horizon 2 businesses • Horizon 1 will be core driver in the short to medium term mainly comprising 1) Generics, 2) API, 3) Branded Generics, 4) OTC and 5) Biosimilars • Horizon 2 is earmarked for long term mainly comprising 1) ImmunoOncology NCEs, 2) Biologics & CGT, 3) Nutraceuticals, 4) CDMO (small and large molecules), 5) Disease management, 6) D2C and 7) Digital services • The company aspires to 1) maintain double digit sales growth, 2) 25%. Outlook We maintain BUY as the so called transition to … [Read more...] about Buy Dr Reddy’s Laboratories; target of Rs 4960: ICICI Direct

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin After months of zero-covid policy-inspired lockdowns, China declared it was open for business. Only days after this declaration, Shanghai and Beijing tightened pandemic measures and re-entered partial lockdown. China experts may argue whether this is a setback for President Xi Jinping or not. In the face of faltering growth and energy crises, this haphazard reopening will bring turmoil to global energy markets, but not for the reasons you may think. Optimists hoping that China even partially reopening will ease logistical woes and increase production are in for a rude awakening since it doesn’t appear the usual market mechanisms of Chinese consumption or production are applying. However, pessimists who fear the country’s reopening will strain the market through increased energy demand don’t have it quite right either. The unclear relationship between Chinese lockdowns and global energy turmoil stems from confusing and … [Read more...] about China’s Reopening is No Blossoming of Energy Markets

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Construction of a new gas pipeline. Getty Few Americans likely noticed last week that Denmark refused to grant a permit for finishing construction of the Russian natural gas pipeline Nord Stream 2, but its international significance is enormous.  Denmark’s refusal is the latest chapter in a story of how good intentions in fighting climate change go bad.  It is a cautionary tale of how a country – in this case, Germany – while seeking to make itself and its energy use cleaner, more efficient and more self-sufficient, can produce the opposite of all three.  As climate change becomes more of an issue in America heading into the 2020 election season, Nord Stream 2 provides a case study of the potential peril we face when our desire to switch as rapidly as possible to cleaner energy overwhelms current scientific, technological, political and economic realities. The back story of Nord Stream 2 involves the desire of … [Read more...] about The Nord Stream 2 Pipeline And The Dangers Of Moving Too Rashly Toward Renewable Energy

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Last year we had our first experience with Crystal Cruises. It was 12 days aboard the Crystal Mozart over Thanksgiving on the Danube visiting various Christmas markets. It was the line’s first river ship and is now one of four. We were hooked. It was everything we had heard about, and so while we went with high expectations, the friendly, anticipatory service, the modern but elegant design using high-quality materials and terrific food made us want more despite having an entry-level cabin category. It was almost hard to justify venturing off the boat, it was so nice and relaxing onboard. The two-story waterfall in the central reception area of Crystal Symphony adjacent to Crystal Cove, ... [+] one of more than a half-dozen bars and lounges aboard the vessel. Nicole Gurkin Neighbors of my parents used to annually do one of Crystal’s round-the-world journeys, and every time I would hear them rave about the … [Read more...] about First Look: Crystal’s Renovated Symphony Is A Perfectly Composed Luxury Resort That Floats

- A + A Farouk Kamal. (Photo credit: airasia.com) KUALA LUMPUR (June 23): AirAsia X Bhd (AAX) has appointed the Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of Urusharta Jamaah Sdn Bhd (UJSB), Farouk Kamal as its independent non-executive director effective immediately. UJSB is the government's special-purpose vehicle set up to take over Lembaga Tabung Haji's (LTH) underperforming assets. In a statement, the medium and long haul affiliate of Air Asia Aviation Group said the appointment of Farouk reflects a new era for AAX, as the airline embarks on a new strategic direction for a sustainable and viable future. “Farouk is coming in at a great time, as AAX had record sales this week. We look forward to his contribution as an experienced board member. “AAX is an important part of our overall group expansion strategy which completes the broad ecosystem of portfolio companies and overarching transformation goal to become the global leading travel and lifestyle platform of … [Read more...] about AirAsia X appoints Urusharta Jamaah CIO Farouk Kamal as new independent director

Selangor government has no more objection against ECRL passing through state’s northern region — Menteri Besar - A + A KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 2): The Selangor government has no objection to the proposed East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) passing through the State’s northern region, according to Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari. Amirudin said on Thursday (Dec 2) that the State government also has no intention to delay the construction of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), which is expected to have a positive impact on the people of the East Coast States and the Klang Valley. He emphasised that the decision by Selangor was made after taking into account discussions and arriving at a consensus with stakeholders involved in the ECRL project which include the Ministry of Transport (MOT), Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRLSB), local authorities as well as Federal and State government agencies. At the ECRL document handover ceremony for Section C (Northern Alignment), Amirudin … [Read more...] about Selangor greenlights ECRL’s original northern alignment

- A + A KUALA LUMPUR (June 24): Instant beverage premix manufacturer Orgabio Holdings Bhd's initial public offering (IPO) for the public portion has been oversubscribed by 50.86 times. In a statement on Friday (June 24), the company said a total of 7,562 applications seeking 642.7 million new shares were received from the Malaysian public for 12.39 million new shares that were made available for public subscription. It said the bumiputera public portion of shares was oversubscribed by 45.52 times, after a total of 4,674 applications for 288.3 million shares were received. Meanwhile, 2,888 applications for the remaining public portion amounting to 354.4 million shares were received, representing an oversubscription rate of 56.19 times. Orgabio said the 6.2 million new shares offered to its eligible directors and employees had also been fully subscribed. Orgabio executive deputy chairman Datuk Ean Yong Tin Sin said the response received for the company's IPO … [Read more...] about Orgabio’s IPO public portion oversubscribed 50.86 times

This article first appeared in Forum, The Edge Malaysia Weekly, on June 20, 2022 - June 26, 2022. The ECRL project became entangled with the 1MDB scandal, amid concerns that loans by Beijing were inflated to bail out the sovereign wealth fund - A + A When Malaysia agreed to participate in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2016, a flock of mega­projects involving Chinese investments began to crop up around the country. Among them were two railway projects, the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) and Gemas-Johor Baru Electrified Double-Tracking Project (G-JB); the Trans Sabah Gas Pipeline, pitched as a solution to Sabah’s power shortage problems; and the Melaka Gateway, a coastal property development expected to generate RM15 billion in revenue upon its completion. These projects — all of which have donned the elusive label of “BRI” throughout their existence — have undergone several shifts across the years. They have been suspended, cancelled, involved in … [Read more...] about Ideas: Monitoring the Belt and Road Initiative